Home Organization 101
How many times have you come across a magazine worthy pantry on social media and thought to yourself, If only my space could look like that!? The proliferation of uber-organized, highly curated and expertly photographed spaces within recent years has not gone unnoticed. As addicting as it may be to peruse accounts such as The Home Edit and scroll endlessly through the color-coded, pristine cabinets, closets and drawers of the rich and famous, we should also be mindful of the unrealistic expectations these images place on our own journey towards organizing our homes. I know firsthand how paralyzing it can feel to use these resources as a jumping off point for organizing your home. What do you do when you feel inspired by these images but lack clarity on where to start? Keep reading below for 5 tips which I have found immensely helpful from my own experience.
Image: In Honor of Design
One Space At A Time
The most important thing to remember is to pace yourself. When you first get bitten by the organizational bug, there is a strong urge to attack all of the things, all at once. Resist this urge! In order to create a system that works for you and your family, and in order to avoid flipping your entire house upside down, it is absolutely imperative to start slow and only focus your attention on one space at a time. My advice would be to start with the space that gets the most use. For many people, this is the kitchen pantry. I recommend starting there for two reasons: one, it is practical to have your most used space organized first! You will reap the benefits of your organizational efforts immediately and your days will instantly run smoother. The second reason is it will give you plenty of motivation to pursue other spaces. Having organized spaces can feel addicting! When you see how truly life changing it is to have a place for everything and everything in its place, you will want to keep going.
Image: Three Birds Renovations
2. Clean & De-Clutter First
Repeat after me: You cannot organize a cluttered space. This has got to be the biggest mistake people make when attempting to organize any space. They fail to clean and de-clutter and then wonder why their room looks just like before only a week later. The reason it is so important to clean and declutter before attempting to organize is simple: you need to do an inventory check and determine what is worth keeping and what is not. The cleaning part is obvious: you want to get rid of trash, expired items and any dust bunnies that may be setting up a home in your area. Decluttering is essential (and also difficult) because it entails an honest evaluation from you. As a rule of thumb, I do not keep things if it has been over a month since I last used them. There are obvious exceptions to this rule (such as seasonal items, which I keep in storage anyways) but for the most part, it serves me well and keeps my spaces from becoming a hoarder’s paradise.
Image: Kristy Wicks
3. Practicality Over Looks
I once read about how a particular influencer has to stick to certain colors when buying groceries in order to maintain the aesthetic of her pantry organization. While I respect her commitment to keeping her home picture perfect, I have to confess that this will never be me. That is not something that works for my family, at least not while our kids are young! If this is something that also resonates with you, then I urge you to keep in mind practicality before all else. I know how tempting it is to create a beautifully organized space, but I don’t think it should ever come at the cost of practicality and ease of use. Remember that your space exists primarily to serve you and your family. Those pretty containers may be gorgeous, but if they do not make your life easier, then replace them with something that does!
Image: RealSimple
4. Label Crazy
When I first started out on my organizational journey, my little label maker became my best friend. It proved especially helpful in the pantry, where flour and powdered sugar look dangerously alike and expiration dates are a reality we cannot ignore. It is undoubtedly a handy little tool I will always recommend. Resist the urge to over-label, however, if you wish to preserve the longevity of your organizational system. Your containers should be versatile in the event that you ever want to switch out their contents. If you label every single container unnecessarily, you will find yourself having to re-label each time you buy something new.
Image: Rachel Parcell
5. Expect to Revisit
This last tip is super important to manage expectations. Understand that organizing a space once doesn’t mean you won’t reorganize it again and again. It is normal to revisit an already organized room and it doesn’t mean that your initial attempt was a failure. When a space is frequently used, it is bound to become a bit crowded again, especially if the space is multi-functional. Take the opportunity to re-organize and evaluate which aspects worked marvelously and which ones can stand to be replaced. Each round of organization will get you one step closer to a space that is ideal for your family.
Image: Martha Stewart Living